A YALE professor has shockingly claimed the Trump administration's handling of the coronavirus outbreak is “close to genocide.”

Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist, tweeted on Wednesday that the number of people who have died from the coronavirus in the US nearly equates to “genocide by default.”

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Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at Yale, said the number of coronavirus deaths in the US is 'close to genocide'Credit: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

“How many people will die this summer, before Election Day?” he tweeted.

“What proportion of the deaths will be among African-Americans, Latinos, other people of color? This is getting awfully close to genocide by default.”

How many people will die this summer, before Election Day? What proportion of the deaths will be among African-Americans, Latinos, other people of color? This is getting awfully close to genocide by default. What else do you call mass death by public policy? #COVID19#coronavirus

Another user said: "You sir are speaking like an anti-American. How dare you a in-person of color suggest such lunacy and fear in our communities."

"Are you not concerned about any death? Or would you rather be the catalyst (sic) of sustainable anger energy. People like you make me laugh."

You sir are speaking like an anti-American. How dare you a in-person of color suggest such lunacy and fear in our communities. Are you not concerned about any death? Or would you rather be the catalist of sustainable anger energy. People like you make me laugh.

"You win the most asinine comment of the day award. And, [by the way], no one is forcing anyone to leave their home. It is about personal choice - something you apparently do not understand. Perhaps you would be happier in China?" another social media user wrote.

As of Wednesday, 1,245,900 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported, with more than 73,000 deaths.

Minorities, particularly black people, are dying in disproportionate numbers from the virus in the US.

People of color have been especially exposed to the virus because they are more likely to hold jobs that are deemed essential amid the outbreak.

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And as states start to reopen, minorities are likely to be among those whose workplaces open first.

For example, in New York City — the epicenter of the country’s outbreak — black people make up just under 25 percent of the population, but more than 40 percent of public transit workers.

It temporarily barred entry by foreign nationals who had traveled in China within the previous 14 days, with exceptions for the immediate family of US citizens and permanent residents.

President Trump predicts more coronavirus deaths will occur because of the lockdown being lifted

By that point, nearly 40 countries had already imposed travel restrictions on China, and most major airlines had suspended flights to China after several major international carriers stopped because of the outbreak.

The State Department had already told Americans not to travel to China because of the outbreak.